Chapter 123

In the capital of the Yong Kingdom, there are four counties to the west: Wannian County, Chang’an County, Daxing County, and Changyang County.

Wannian County, situated in the eastern part of the capital, is extremely prosperous.

General Guo’s youngest son, Guo Gaoyi, serves as a seventh-rank county magistrate in the Wannian County government.

The county magistrate of Wannian County is wary of General Guo’s identity and usually doesn’t pay much attention to Guo Gaoyi. He just needs to show up occasionally.

At first, Guo Gaoyi pretended to be diligent, but later found that the county magistrate didn’t care about him at all. So he spent his days sitting at his desk studying poetry and essays.

The government staff were used to flattering him. Sometimes when they saw him scratching his head trying to compose a poem, they would praise him endlessly, elevating him to the sky.

Guo Gaoyi was happy to be flattered, so he often invited these government staff to the nearby Zuixian Tower for drinks.

One day, a government staff named Wang Liu saw another poem on Guo Gaoyi’s desk and exclaimed, “Oh, County Magistrate Guo, you’ve come up with another good poem?”

Guo Gaoyi glanced at Wang Liu and jokingly scolded, “Don’t think I don’t know, you guys flatter me all the time. You might not even recognize all these characters.”

Wang Liu wasn’t ashamed of being exposed and laughed, “Who cares about the poem, as long as it’s written by County Magistrate Guo, it’s definitely a good poem!”

Upon hearing this, Guo Gaoyi couldn’t help but laugh along.

He had a square face with thick eyebrows and big eyes, looking like a martial artist, but he had a friendly demeanor and always had a smile on his face.

Guo Gaoyi knew very well in his heart that these people flattered him because of his powerful father, but he never refused their flattery.

Because he was the most useless child in the family, he always felt inferior when he was at home.

Only when he was outside, enjoying the adulation of these people, did he feel truly alive.

At times like this, he was extremely grateful for his decision to buy a rank from the Duke of Qingguo!

This matter was quite tortuous, thanks to the help of his mother and grandmother in secret.

A while ago, the Duke of Qingguo fell from power, which scared him into illness, thinking he would be exposed too.

After waiting for more than half a month without any news, he slowly put his heart back into his stomach.

Lost in thought, Guo Gaoyi pointed to the poem on the desk and said, “Old Wang, this poem wasn’t written by me, but I have to admit, it’s really exquisite!”

Wang Liu stepped forward and smiled, “Who could earn such high praise from County Magistrate?”

Guo Gaoyi’s face showed a hint of longing, “You might not believe it, but it was written by a ten-year-old girl at the Dragon Boat Festival banquet.”

“A while ago at the poetry gathering in the eastern suburbs, I caught a glimpse of her from afar. She’s indeed delicate and graceful, with remarkable literary talent!”

Wang Liu’s face immediately showed a hint of jealousy upon hearing this.

“County Magistrate, could it be…”

Guo Gaoyi waved his hand, “Don’t talk nonsense. My daughter is already two years old, and she is the daughter of the Minister Meng’s family. There’s no reason for her to be someone’s concubine.”

“I just admire her talent. I don’t know how she, at such a young age, can produce such beautiful poems.”

Guo Gaoyi, twenty-three years old this year, was already promised in marriage by Mrs. Guo after he made the list. He was already a married man.

Looking at the poem on the desk, he couldn’t help but feel excited, so he waved his hand.

“Tonight, call the brothers, and we’ll have a good time at Zuixian Tower. We won’t come back until we’re drunk!”

Wang Liu was waiting for this moment!

He had taken money from others, promising to lure Guo Gaoyi to Zuixian Tower tonight. Finally, he had succeeded!

“County Magistrate is really generous. On behalf of the other brothers, I thank County Magistrate in advance!”

When the sky was dimly dark, it was time for the night court to end. Apart from the few remaining, a group of Westerners surrounded Guo Gaoyi and arrived at the Zuixian Tower.

Guo Gaoyi booked a private room, and drinks and food came up like running water.

Wang Liu and three others exchanged glances, while the Westerners flattered Guo Gaoyi, urging him to drink cup after cup. Soon, his cheeks flushed red, and his eyes became blurry from intoxication.

At this moment, a veiled singer carrying a pipa walked in.

Guo Gaoyi, in a daze but still somewhat rational, quickly waved his hand, “Drinking is fine, but no women. I can’t have women around.”

His wife was like a tigress, and he didn’t want to argue with her when he got home.

Seeing this, Wang Liu grabbed Guo Gaoyi’s hand and smiled, “Master Guo, it’s just an entertainer, singing a little tune.”

“You always take care of us, so we want to show our appreciation!”

Guo Gaoyi muttered, “This isn’t right. I can’t smell of rouge and powder. Quickly ask her to leave.”

Meanwhile, the singer sat down gracefully and began to play the pipa.

With a gentle melody flowing out, the singer softly recited a poem.

“The fine clouds play with the clever stars, while the Milky Way quietly crosses. When the golden wind meets the jade dew, it surpasses the countless things in the mortal world.”

Guo Gaoyi, who had been pushing and shoving with Wang Liu and the others, suddenly stopped in his tracks upon hearing this.

Seeing this, Wang Liu’s eyes flickered, and he let go of Guo Gaoyi’s hand.

“As gentle as water, as beautiful as a dream, enduring the return journey across the Magpie Bridge.”

Guo Gaoyi was enchanted by the recitation and slowly walked towards the singer.

“If love remains long-lasting, what does it matter if we’re together every day or only occasionally?”

After the singer finished reciting, she slowly looked up, her eyes sparkling and lovable.

She was dressed lightly today, and her fair skin could be seen through the thin veil, with a faint fragrance surrounding her. She was truly charming and captivating.

With such a beauty in front of him, an ordinary intoxicated man would be unable to control himself.

However, the singer sold her art, not her body. Coercing her would be considered a crime, and if done by an official, it would be a more serious offense, punishable by whipping until death!

In the adjacent private room, a man was closely watching Guo Gaoyi’s every move through a hole in the wall.

Originally hunched over, he straightened up instantly when things reached a critical point, as if he had become ten years younger in an instant!

Guo Gaoyi stumbled to the singer’s side. Just when everyone thought he would do something inappropriate, he suddenly sat down cross-legged and politely said to the singer,

“Miss, would you mind playing and singing again? I’ll pay you twice the price!”

The singer was suddenly stunned and at a loss.

This was different from what her patron had said. She had almost screamed just now, but now…

Thinking of this, the singer looked somewhat bewilderedly at the wall behind her.

Thud, thud, thud!

Three soft knocks came from the wall.

Hearing the sound, the singer’s eyes flashed, but she thought of the generous payment and gritted her teeth.

The next moment, she smiled gently at Guo Gaoyi and said, “Sir, then let me perform for you.”

With a seemingly casual wave of her sleeve, a cluster of powder mixed with fragrance drifted out from her sleeve, lightly falling on Guo Gaoyi’s body.

The sound of the pipa rang out again, accompanied by the singer’s murmured beautiful verses. Guo Gaoyi felt a rush of heat rising from his lower abdomen, and he couldn’t control himself any longer!